Stocking level indication apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are described herein including a shelf assembly that utilizes the accumulated weight of products stocked thereon to compress a compression member disposed within the assembly. An electronic imaging device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and can be oriented to capture an image of the compression member to determine whether a particular shelf needs to be restocked and avoid having to manipulate or remove products from a shelf to determine a current stock level.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/332,270, filed May 5, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to retail shelving and, moreparticularly, to stocking level indicating shelving assemblies.

BACKGROUND

Retail stores often utilize modular shelving units to display productsfor sale. It can be important to maintain an accurate count of inventoryduring operation of the store. Pursuant to this, associates often haveto count products on the shelves. It can be difficult for associates toaccurately determine a count of products on the shelves and, as such,one method to ensure an accurate count to remove all of the productsfrom the shelves. Unfortunately, the associates must then restock theproducts on the shelves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methodspertaining to a shelving assembly that provides an indication of astocking level of products on the shelving assembly. This descriptionincludes drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shelving unit having astocking level assembly mounted thereto and an electronic imaging deviceoriented at the stocking level assembly in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the stocking level assembly of FIG. 1in an uncompressed configuration in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the stocking level assembly of FIG. 1in a compressed configuration in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a stocking level assemblyhaving a triangular compression member in accordance with severalembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart in accordance with several embodiments.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems,apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a visualindication of a level or number of products stocked on a shelf of ashelving unit. The visual indication is provided by virtue of anaccumulated weight of products causing a visual compression of acompression member according to the weight. More specifically, a shelfassembly is described herein that utilizes the accumulated weight ofproducts stocked thereon to compress a compression member disposedwithin the assembly. An electronic imaging device can be mountedproximate to the assembly and can be oriented to capture an image of thecompression member to determine whether a particular shelf needs to berestocked. Accordingly, the assembly and electronic imaging devicedescribed herein advantageously avoids having to manipulate or removeproducts from a shelf to determine a current stock level and helps aretail location avoid being out of product on the shelf.

By some approaches, a control circuit can be configured to receive theimage from the electronic imaging device and analyze the image todetermine a current stock level. For example, the control circuit can beconfigured to associate a compression level of the compression member toa weight of the products on the assembly. Utilizing the approximateweight and the type of product stocked on the shelf, an approximatenumber of products on the shelf can be extrapolated.

An example shelving unit 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Based on a particularuse, multiple shelving units 10 can be aligned in a row to produce anaisle in a retail location. The shelving unit 10 includes a base portion12 and a back wall 14 extending upwardly therefrom. The base portion 12can include a base deck 16 and a kick plate 18, as commonly configured.A plurality of shelf notches 20 are vertically disposed adjacent tolateral edges 22 of the back wall 14 to provide anchor points forshelves 24 mounted to the shelving unit 10. After the shelving unit 10is assembled, associates can then stock products 26 on the shelves 24.

If desired, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, one or more of the shelves 24 caninclude a stocking level indication assembly 50. The assembly 50 can bea shelf 24 configured to mount to the back wall 14 of the shelving unit10 or can be an insert for a shelf 24 or disposed thereon. As shown, theassembly 50 includes rigid lower and upper shelf portions or members 52,54 with a compression portion or member 56 disposed therebetween. Thecompression member 56 can be secured in the assembly, and to the shelfmembers 52, 54 thereof, by any suitable method, including adhesive,hardware, interlocking components, or the like. For example, thecompression member 56 can be adhered to the upper and lower surfaces ofthe lower and upper shelf members 52, 54, respectively. The compressionmember 56 can have a first, base height corresponding to no products 26being disposed on the assembly. Then, as products 26 are stocked on theassembly 50, the compression member 56 can be configured to compress ata known rate such that for a given weight on the assembly, thecompression member 56 will have compressed a known amount between thelower and upper shelf members 52, 54. For example, the compressionmember can be made of any suitably compressible material, such asrubber, a polymer, or the like.

By some approaches, outer edges 58 of the compression member 56 can berecessed from adjacent outer edges 60 of the shelf members 52, 54. Soconfigured, when the assembly is fully stocked and the compressionmember 56 is compressed, bulging of the compression member 56 as aresult of the compression will not extend past the outer edges 60 of theshelf members 52, 54. By other approaches, one or more of the outeredges 58 of the compression member 56 can align with the correspondingouter edges 60 of the shelf members 52, 54.

As shown, in some forms, the lower and upper shelf members 52, 54 caneach have a generally rectangular footprint where the outer edges 60thereof include a front edge 62, a rear edge 64, and side edges 66extending therebetween. Of course, other shapes and configurations canbe utilized for particular applications or if desired.

If desired, the compression member 56 can have a footprint with asimilar shape as that of the lower and upper shelf members 52, 54. Forexample, as shown, the compression member 56 can have a generallyrectangular footprint where the outer edges 58 thereof include a frontedge 68, a rear edge 70, and side edges 72 running therebetween. Asdiscussed above, by one approach, the compression member 56 can havesubstantially the same footprint as the shelf members 52, 54 with theedges 62, 64, 66 of the shelf members 52, 54 generally aligned with theedges 68, 70, 72 of the compression member 56. By another approach, thecompression member 56 can have a relatively smaller footprint so thatthe edges 68, 70, 72 thereof are recessed with respect to the edges 58,60, 62 of the shelf members 52, 54.

By yet another approach, the compression member 56 need not span theentire surface area between the shelf members 52, 54. For example, thecompression member 56 can be sized to 90%, 75%, or 50% of the surfacearea of the shelf members 52, 54. Pursuant to this, the compressionmember 56 can also have a differently shaped footprint than that of theshelf members 52, 54.

In one form, as shown in FIG. 4, one of the outer edges 58 of thecompression member 56 can be disposed along and adjacent to the frontedge 62 of the shelf members 52, 54 with one or more of the other edges58 spaced from other outer edges 60 of the shelf members 52, 54. Soconfigured, the compression member 56 is visible along a majority or, ifdesired, substantially all, of the front edge 62 of the shelf members52, 54. As shown, the compression member 56 of this form can begenerally triangular. Of course, other shapes and configurations can beutilized, including curvilinear shapes. So disposed, the triangularcompression member 56 extends rearwardly between the shelf members 52,54 to a point adjacent to the rear edges 66 thereof.

If desired, and to provide additional stability to the assembly 50, theshelf members 52, 54 can be pivotably coupled along the rear edges 64thereof with a hinge 73 or the like, such as along the entire lengththereof or along portions thereof. So configured, the upper shelf member54 can pivot with respect to the lower shelf member 52 along the rearedges 64 thereof and, therefore, can pivot to compress the compressionmember 56 disposed therebetween. Moreover, with the triangularcompression member 56 described above, the shelf members 52, 54 of thisform are stably assembled along the front and rear edges 62, 64 thereof.

If desired, the compression member 56 can be visually distinct withrespect to the shelf members 52, 54. For example, the compression member56 can have a different color, such as a bright color, including yellow,orange, red, or the like, a different pattern, such as striped,cross-checked, or the like, or combinations thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic imaging device 74, such as a camera orthe like, can be mounted adjacent to the assembly 50 to capture an imagethereof including the compression member 56. By one approach, theimaging device 74 can be mounted proximate to the assembly 50. Theimaging device 74 can be mounted to a fixed location, such as theshelving unit 10 itself, including to one of the shelves 24, a wall ofthe retail location, or other structure. With a fixed configuration, theimaging device 74 can be pivotably or slidably movable to capture imagesalong a range so that the imaging device 74 can capture images of morethan one assembly 50.

In another form, the imaging device 74 can be mounted to a mobilestructure or assembly, such as a cart, robot, or the like. For example,the imaging device 74 can be configured to operate as a shopper moves acart around the store or as a robot is programmed to move up and downaisles in the store.

Thereafter, the imaging device 74 can send the image to a computingdevice 76 having a control circuit therein over a wired connection orover any suitable network, utilizing radio communication, Bluetooth,WiFi, near field communication, or the like utilizing suitablereceivers, transmitters, and/or transceivers. The computing device 76can include a memory and may generally be any processor-based devicesuch as one or more of a computer system, a server, a networkedcomputer, a cloud-based server, etc. The control circuit 76 may comprisea central processing unit, a processor, a microprocessor, and the like.The control circuit 76 may be configured to execute computer-readableinstructions stored on the memory. The memory may comprise volatileand/or non-volatile computer-readable storage memory and have storedupon it a set of computer readable instructions which, when executed bythe control circuit 76, cause the system to perform operations asdescribed herein.

The control circuit 76 receives the image and is configured to estimatea weight indicated by the assembly 50. For example, the control circuit76 can analyze the assembly 50 in the image to determine or estimate acompression distance of the compression member 56. The control circuit76 can achieve this by determining a distance between the shelf members52, 54, such as between the outer or inner front edge corners 78, 80thereof.

By one approach, the control circuit 76 can be calibrated to aparticular product 26. For example, the control circuit 76 can receivean image from the imaging device 74 of the assembly 50 having noproducts 26 stocked thereon to establish a baseline measurement for aprojection for the compression member 56. Next, the control circuit 76can receive an image from the imaging device 74 of the assembly 50 in afully stocked configuration to establish a top measurement for theprojection for the compression member 56. The control circuit 76 can beprovided with the products 26 intended for the assembly 50, such asthrough a remote database or server device 84 described below, toestablish an intended number of products 26 and an intended weight forthe fully stocked configuration. Identification of the baseline andfully stocked images can be provided from the remote server device 84which can be configured to coordinate tasks, such as stocking andproduct location. So configured, the control circuit 76 can thereaftercompare a subsequently received image, and the compression distanceshown thereon, to the projection to determine an approximate weightand/or number of products 26 stocked on the assembly 50.

By another approach, the assembly 50 can include a scale 82 mountedthereto and visible to the imaging device 74. The scale 82 can be anyobject of known dimensions so that the scale 82 can be compared to thecompression distance. For example, the scale 82 can be a label for theproducts 26 on the shelf 24 or a dedicated object. If desired, the scale82 can be mounted to one of the shelf members 52, 54, such asoverhanging the gap therebetween. Next, the control circuit 76 can beconfigured to estimate a total weight of products 26 on the assembly 50based on the compression distance of the compression member 56, such asby referencing a table or the like.

The control circuit 76 can further be configured to access productlocation information, stored locally or on a remote database or serverdevice 84. The product location information can identify the products 26intended to be stocked on the assembly 50 and identify weight data ofthe identified products 26. From the weight of the products 26 that areintended to be stocked on the assembly 50 and the estimated weight, thecontrol circuit 76 can estimate a number of products 26 on the assembly50.

If desired, the control circuit 76 can further compare the estimatednumber of products 26 on the assembly 50 to a predetermined stocknumber, such as a number that would indicate a low stock level. Inresponse to determining that the estimated number is at or below thepredetermined stock number, the control circuit 76 can be configured tosend out a low stock signal. The low stock signal can be sent or routedto any suitable recipients, such as to create tasks therefor, includingdevices for stocking associates, devices for ordering additional stock,and the like.

Additionally, the estimated weight and/or estimated number of productscan be used by the control circuit 76 to generate warning signals. Forexample, if the estimates indicate that there is too much weight on theassembly 50, the control circuit 76 can be configured to send out awarning signal to suitable recipients to remove products 26 from theassembly 50. Moreover, if the estimates indicate an anomaly, such as aweight or number that do not reflect the products 26 intended to bestocked on the assembly 50, the control circuit 76 can be configured tosend a warning signal to suitable recipients to check the shelving unit10.

In some embodiments, a stock level indication assembly is describedherein that includes upper and lower shelf members, a compression memberdisposed between the upper and lower shelf members, and an electronicimaging device proximate the upper and lower shelf members oriented andconfigured to capture an image of the compression member. Thecompression member of these embodiments can be configured to visiblycompress in response to one or more products being stocked on the uppershelf member to provide a visual indication of the number of productsstocked on the upper shelf member.

By several approaches, the stock level indication assembly can furtherinclude a control circuit operably coupled to the electronic imagingdevice. The control circuit can be configured to receive the image fromthe imaging device and estimate a number of the products on the shelfbased at least on the image.

By further approaches, the control circuit can be configured to estimatethe number of the products on the shelf by estimating a compressiondistance indicated in the image, estimating a weight of total productson the shelf based on the estimated compression distance, accessingproduct location information, and estimating a number of the products onthe shelf based on the product location information and the estimatedweight.

By further approaches, the control circuit can be configured to send alow stock signal in response to determining that the number of theproducts estimated to be on the shelf is at or below a predeterminednumber.

By further approaches, the control circuit can be configured todetermine a lateral distribution of products on the upper shelf memberbased on a laterally angled compression of the compression member.

By some approaches, the upper and lower shelf members can have agenerally rectangular footprint with front edges and the compressionmember can have a generally triangular footprint, where the compressionmember is disposed between the upper and lower shelf members with anedge thereof running adjacent to the front edges of the upper and lowermembers.

In several embodiments, a method for providing 100 a visual indicationof stock level is described herein that includes receiving 102 one ormore products on a shelf assembly. The shelf assembly can include upperand lower shelf members and a compression member disposed therebetween,where the compression member configured to visibly compress in responseto one or more products being stocked on the upper shelf member toprovide a visual indication of the number of products stocked on theupper shelf member. The method can further include compressing 104 thecompression member as a result of the products being received on theupper shelf member and capturing 106 an image of the shelf assembly withan electronic imaging device disposed proximate the shelf assembly.

By some approaches, the method can further include receiving 108 theimage at a control circuit from the electronic imaging device andestimating 110 a number of the products on the shelf assembly based atleast on the image.

By further approaches, estimating 110 the number of products on theshelf assembly can include estimating a compression distance indicatedin the image, estimating a weight of the products based on the estimatedcompression distance, accessing product location information, andestimating a number of the products on the shelf assembly with thecontrol circuit based on the product location information and theestimated weight.

By yet further approaches, the method can include sending 112 a lowstock signal with the control circuit in response to determining thatthe number of the products estimated to be on the shelf assembly is ator below a predetermined number.

In some embodiments, a method for installing 200 a stock levelindication assembly is described herein that includes mounting 202 alower shelf member to a shelf assembly, disposing 204 a compressionmember on the lower shelf member, disposing 206 an upper shelf member onthe compression member, stocking 208 one or more products on the uppershelf member such that the weight of the products compresses thecompression member, and mounting 210 an electronic imaging deviceproximate the shelf assembly in an orientation to capture an image ofthe shelf assembly, the image configured to provide an indication of thenumber of products stocked on the upper shelf member.

By several approaches, disposing 204 the compression member on the lowershelf member can include disposing the compression member on the lowershelf member such that a front edge of the compression member isrecessed from a front edge of the lower shelf member and disposing theupper shelf member on the compression member can include disposing theupper shelf member on the compression member such that the front edge ofthe compression member is recessed from a front edge of the upper shelfmember.

By some approaches, the method can further include pivotably 212coupling the upper and lower shelf members along at least a portion ofrear edges thereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of othermodifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made withrespect to the above described embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stock level indication assembly for a retailproduct storage structure, the stock level indication assemblycomprising: upper and lower shelf members; a compression member disposedbetween the upper and lower shelf members, the compression memberconfigured to visibly compress in response to one or more products beingstocked on the upper shelf member to provide a visual indication of thenumber of products stocked on the upper shelf member; an electronicimaging device proximate the upper and lower shelf members oriented andconfigured to capture an image of the compression member.
 2. The stocklevel indication assembly of claim 1, further comprising a controlcircuit operably coupled to the electronic imaging device and configuredto receive the image therefrom, the control circuit configured toestimate a number of the products on the shelf based at least on theimage.
 3. The stock level indication assembly of claim 2, wherein thecontrol circuit is configured to estimate the number of the products onthe shelf by estimating a compression distance indicated in the image,estimating a weight of total products on the shelf based on theestimated compression distance, accessing product location information,and estimating a number of the products on the shelf based on theproduct location information and the estimated weight.
 4. The stocklevel indication assembly of claim 2, wherein the control circuit isfurther configured to send a low stock signal in response to determiningthat the number of the products estimated to be on the shelf is at orbelow a predetermined number.
 5. The stock level indication assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determinea lateral distribution of products on the upper shelf member based on alaterally angled compression of the compression member.
 6. The stocklevel indication assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic imagingdevice is mounted to a mobile assembly.
 7. The stock level indicationassembly of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower shelf members includefront edges and the compression member is disposed between upper andlower shelf members so that a front edge thereof is recessed withrespect to the front edges of the upper and lower shelf members suchthat bulging of the compression member after stocking does not extendpast the front edges of the upper and lower shelf members.
 8. The stocklevel indication assembly of claim 1, wherein the compression member isadhered to the upper and lower shelf members along upper and lowersurfaces thereof.
 9. The stock level indication assembly of claim 1,wherein the compression member has a different color or surface patternthan the upper and lower shelf members.
 10. The stock level indicationassembly of claim 1, further comprising a scale on at least one of theupper and lower shelf members that is configured to provide a referencefor compression distance in the image.
 11. The stock level indicationassembly of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower shelf members have agenerally rectangular footprint with front edges and the compressionmember has a generally triangular footprint, the compression memberbeing disposed between the upper and lower shelf members with an edgethereof running adjacent to the front edges of the upper and lowermembers.
 12. The stock level indication assembly of claim 11, whereinthe upper and lower shelf members are pivotably connected along rearedges thereof.
 13. A method for providing a visual indication of stocklevel on a retail product storage structure, the method comprising:receiving one or more products on a shelf assembly, the shelf assemblyincluding upper and lower shelf members and a compression memberdisposed therebetween, the compression member configured to visiblycompress in response to one or more products being stocked on the uppershelf member to provide a visual indication of the number of productsstocked on the upper shelf member; compressing the compression member asa result of the products being received on the upper shelf member;capturing an image of the shelf assembly with an electronic imagingdevice disposed proximate the shelf assembly.
 14. The method of claim13, further comprising: receiving the image at a control circuit fromthe electronic imaging device; and estimating a number of the productson the shelf assembly based at least on the image.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein estimating the number of products on the shelfassembly comprises: estimating a compression distance indicated in theimage; estimating a weight of the products based on the estimatedcompression distance. accessing product location information; andestimating a number of the products on the shelf assembly with thecontrol circuit based on the product location information and theestimated weight.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sendinga low stock signal with the control circuit in response to determiningthat the number of the products estimated to be on the shelf assembly isat or below a predetermined number.
 17. A method for installing a stocklevel indication assembly for a retail product storage structure, themethod comprising: mounting a lower shelf member to a shelf assembly;disposing a compression member on the lower shelf member; disposing anupper shelf member on the compression member; stocking one or moreproducts on the upper shelf member such that the weight of the productscompresses the compression member; and mounting an electronic imagingdevice proximate the shelf assembly in an orientation to capture animage of the shelf assembly, the image configured to provide anindication of the number of products stocked on the upper shelf member.18. The method of claim 17, wherein disposing the compression member onthe lower shelf member comprises disposing the compression member on thelower shelf member such that a front edge of the compression member isrecessed from a front edge of the lower shelf member; and disposing theupper shelf member on the compression member comprises disposing theupper shelf member on the compression member such that the front edge ofthe compression member is recessed from a front edge of the upper shelfmember.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising adhering thecompression member to the upper and lower shelf members.
 20. The methodof claim 17, further comprising pivotably coupling the upper and lowershelf members along at least a portion of rear edges thereof.
 21. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising installing a scale on the shelfassembly, the scale being configured to provide a reference forcompression distance in the image.